Izabella Nasr spent her 7th birthday in hospital where she required emergency surgery for appendicitis.
Her father, Imad Nasr, is a Canadian Citizen but Isabella just received permanent resident status July 3, 2014.
Once you are granted permanent resident status in Canada you have to wait three-months to be eligible for health coverage in Ontario. OHIP says that three-month wait period prevents fraud.
Izabella won’t have Ontario health coverage until October 3, 2014.
Nasr had private insurance, but due to the cost he let it expire in May.
Isabella remained in hospital for seven days. The bill totaled almost $16,000.
In 2011, the Ontario Medical Association recommended the government “...completely remove the three-month waiting period for OHIP coverage."
Isabella is due to see her doctor again in October, an appointment delayed by one week so it will be covered by OHIP.
CHEO says they see about 10 cases like this a year, usually for minor medical issues that cost hundreds, not thousands, of dollars.
The hospital says that anyone who is interested in donating to the family can send a cheque to CHEO, attention Accounts Receivable. Cheques must include the family's last name, Nasr. All donations will go directly to the family.
